To help enhance their supports, Gateway Services, Inc. set out to achieve accreditation from CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. Headquartered in Princeton, Illinois, Gateway Services, Inc. provides supports to adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in Bureau, Marshall, and Putnam Counties through a variety of programs that includes residential services, community employment services, day program services, and community mental health counseling. Supports are tailored to individuals’ choices in order for them to live the lives of their dreams. Gateway’s mission is “empowering people – enriching community.”
“We like to think of CQL Accreditation as a journey, where we partner with agencies to promote ongoing organizational transformation,” says Mary Kay Rizzolo, President and CEO of CQL. “We’re proud to work alongside Gateway on this journey, and strengthen supports for people to achieve their individually-defined outcomes.”
CQL Accreditation provides a proven framework for quality enhancement through planning meetings, self-assessments, interviews, on-site visits, focus groups, stakeholder events, data analysis, and more. It incorporates proprietary and internationally-recognized tools to improve quality:
Shared Values
Shared Values involve the alignment of mission, vision, and overall culture with innovative approaches in human services, is a critical component of CQL Accreditation.
Basic Assurances®
Basic Assurances® look at the provision of non-negotiable safeguards from the person’s perspective, where the effectiveness of the system or the policy is determined in practice, person by person.
Personal Outcome Measures®
Personal Outcome Measures® is a process where people supported and those who know them best are interviewed to learn about the presence of outcomes, and if supports are in place to help people achieve those outcomes.
“With the knowledge and resources provided, we expect Gateway to continue to grow and learn. While we’ve always thought we were ‘person-centered,’ we found that there are so many things we can do to enhance our services and supports to truly empower people who receive these supports,” says Tracy Wright, CEO of Gateway Services, Inc.
Following an on-site visit from CQL staff, on April 20th, 2018 Gateway Services, Inc. officially achieved Quality Assurances Accreditation from CQL. “It was absolutely amazing! The CQL team was professional, yet fun. The week went by very quickly,” states Wright, adding “They shared feedback on a daily basis, gave some suggestions and recommendations along the way, and made the entire experience stress-free.”
This 3-year accreditation term entails continuous collaboration and consultation with CQL involving conference calls, reviews, an on-site visit, along with access to information and resources to support Gateway Services, Inc. in their efforts.
“I don’t see this as an ‘event,’ but as an ongoing commitment to be the best agency we can, so that the people who receive supports gain the greatest benefit,” concludes Wright.
Gateway Services, Inc. Achieves CQL Quality Assurances Accreditation